JP4279365B2 - A watch with a mechanism to set the hands by direct action of the pull-out piece - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a timepiece having a mechanism for setting a hand by a direct action of a pull-out piece with respect to a motion work intermediate wheel, and the mechanism can omit a locking bar by a special shape of the pull-out piece.
More specifically, the present invention relates to an analog display timepiece equipped with such a hand setting mechanism.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Various mechanisms have been proposed to implement the engagement or engagement for detaching the motion work intermediate wheel and conversely setting the needle.
For example, Swiss Patent No. 583,933 performs the separation of the intermediate wheel, which is held in engagement by an elastic tongue, by the conical shoulder at the end of the winding stem acting on the end of the intermediate wheel shaft. A mechanism is disclosed.
[0003]
In another more general solution, a pull-out piece acting on the intermediate movable member is actuated by movement applied to the winding stem. The intermediate movable member is generally formed by a locking bar, one arm of which allows the intermediate wheel to engage and disengage from the motion work wheel. This principle has created various modifications. For example, Swiss Patent No. 613,588 can be cited, in which the cut-off position, also called the neutral position or the engagement position for setting the hands, acts as a locking bar on a plane perpendicular to the general plane of the watch. Is achieved by displacing the sliding pinion in the vertical direction, i.e. in a direction perpendicular to the general plane of the watch, the strip itself being subjected to the action of the arm of the pull-out piece controlled by the needle setting stem Yes.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The mechanism according to the present invention belongs to the above category, but provides a simplified structure in which the intermediate movable member interposed between the pull-out piece and the sliding pinion is omitted in order to engage and disengage the motion work wheel. Objective.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention is a timepiece having at least one analog display unit provided with a mechanism for setting hands by an intermediate wheel having a head and a base provided at an end thereof. The intermediate wheel can move along an axis perpendicular to the general plane of the watch plate between at least one neutral position separated from the motion work wheel and a hand setting position that meshes with the motion work wheel. it can. The intermediate wheel moves from one position to the other by the movement of a needle setting stem with a circular groove cooperating with the pull-out piece. The intermediate wheel is also pushed up by the base by elastic means to enter the needle setting position. On the other hand, the pull-out piece is provided with an arm that can act directly on the head of the intermediate wheel to oppose the elastic means and put the intermediate wheel in the neutral position.
[0006]
The elastic means is formed by a connecting spring, for example. In the embodiment described in detail below, the needle setting mechanism includes a leaf spring having one end fixed to the plate.
In order to make the arm of the pull-out piece easily act on the head of the intermediate wheel when the pull-out piece is rotated, the end of the arm is inclined outward from the general plane of the watch and the end of the intermediate wheel is chamfered. Is provided. Similarly, the arm of the pull-out piece can be provided with a simple chamfer, and the end of the intermediate wheel can be conical or frustoconical.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are given by way of illustration only.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views showing only the neutral position where the stem is pushed in and the needle setting mechanism which is in the needle setting position where the stem is pulled out. The movement of the watch and the display means by hands are not shown here because they are generally known to those skilled in the art.
Referring to FIG. 1, the mechanism basically includes a stem 1 for operating a pull-out piece 4 on a plate P that defines a general plane of a watch. This pull-out piece 4 acts directly on the intermediate wheel 10. The intermediate wheel 10 moves along an axis 13 which is perpendicular to the general plane of the watch as shown in the sectional view. When the pressure is applied and moved along the direction of the shaft 13 against the elastic force of the connecting spring 15, the intermediate wheel 10 is held in a state of being separated from the motion work wheel 20. In the neutral position, the motion work wheel driving the needle display is thus completely separated from the movement chain of the needle setting part. The pull-out piece 4 is constituted by a main body 5 having an elongated shape as a whole, and one end portion of the main body can be rotated around the stud 3 on the plate. The pull-out piece 4 is further provided in a direction substantially orthogonal to the main body 5 and includes a control arm 6 that cooperates with the circular groove 2 of the stem 1, and a second arm 7 is provided at the other end of the main body 5. Is provided. The end 8 of the second arm is inclined outward from the plate P. That is, the end 8 has a shape protruding from the tip of the second arm, and is inclined in a direction away from the surface of the plate P toward the tip.
[0008]
In the neutral position shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the free end 16 acts on the base 12 of the intermediate wheel 10 and the other end 17 is applied by a leaf spring 15 attached to the plate. Since the second arm 7 abuts against the head 11 of the intermediate wheel 10 by opposing the force, the motion work wheel 20 is separated from the intermediate wheel.
[0009]
2, 5, and 6, the stem 1 is pulled out in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2, whereby the pull-out piece 4 rotates around the stud 3. Therefore, the bent end 8 of the arm 7 releases the intermediate wheel 10. Therefore, the intermediate wheel 10 can be moved along the shaft 13 by the action of the spring 15 and meshed with the motion work wheel 20.
[0010]
3 and 5 are top views corresponding to the positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, to assist in understanding the operation of the mechanism according to the present invention.
Next, with reference to FIG. 4, this is a cross-sectional view taken along the broken line IV-IV in FIG. 3, in order from left to right, the plate P, the central portion of the control arm 6 to the stud 3, The main body 5 up to the arm 7 of the pull-out piece 4 and finally the intermediate wheel 10 are shown. A connecting spring 15 attached to the plate P at the end 17 acts against the base 12 of the intermediate wheel 10. The leaf spring may be an elastic member that performs only a coupling or engagement function, or conversely, may be a part of a component that performs another function, such as a jumper arm. Similarly, the pull-out piece 4 can also be provided with a mating portion for performing other functions, as schematically shown by a pin 9 visible in perspective and top view.
[0011]
Referring to the needle setting movement chain, FIGS. 3 and 4 also show a first intermediate wheel 21 and a second intermediate wheel 22 meshing therewith. This second intermediate wheel 22 always meshes with the intermediate wheel 10 regardless of its position along the axis 13.
[0012]
6 and 7 are cross-sectional views taken along the VI-VI broken line in FIG. 5 and the VII-VII broken line in FIG. 3, respectively, so that the positions of various wheels and pinions at the needle setting position and the neutral position can be more easily understood. Show. The arrows shown in these drawings indicate the direction in which the force of the spring 15 is applied at the needle setting position and the direction in which the pressure of the arm 7 of the pull-out piece 4 is applied at the neutral position.
[0013]
As is well known, the first intermediate wheel 21 has crown-like teeth that mesh with a pinion (not shown) attached to the rectangular portion 24 of the control stem 1. The pinion is generally a sliding pinion.
[0014]
The hand setting mechanism according to the present invention provides the economic benefit of omitting the locking bar, the structural benefit gained by the spatial gain associated with this omission, and the life of the watch due to the movement chain resting in the neutral position. Give a benefit on. This last point provides a certain benefit, especially in the case of battery-powered electronic watches, as it also helps to reduce the driving torque of the hands by the motion workwheel and thus the energy consumption.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mechanism in a neutral position.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a mechanism in a needle setting position.
FIG. 3 is a partial top view of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a reduced cross-sectional view taken along a line IV-IV in FIG. 3 and passing through a coupling spring.
FIG. 5 is a partial top view of FIG. 2;
6 is a reduced cross-sectional view through the motion work wheel taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. 5. FIG.
7 is a reduced cross-sectional view through the motion work wheel along the line VII-VII in FIG. 3. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
4 pull-out pieces, 7 arms, 10 intermediate wheels,
11 intermediate wheel head, 12 intermediate wheel base, 15 leaf spring

Claims (3)

An analog display timepiece having a mechanism for setting hands by means of an intermediate wheel (10) provided with a head (11) and a base (12) at each end,
The middle wheel is
At least one neutral position separated from the motion work wheel (20) along an axis (13) perpendicular to the general plane of the watch plate (P), and a hand setting position that meshes with the motion work wheel (20); The needle setting stem (1) with a circular groove (2) cooperating with the pull-out piece (4) can be moved from one position to the other ,further,
The middle wheel (10)
It is pushed up from the base (12) by the elastic means (15) and enters the needle setting position,
On the other hand, the pull-out piece (4) comprises an arm (7) having an inclined end (8) that can directly contact the head (11) of the intermediate wheel (10) so as to oppose the elastic means (15) , This timepiece is characterized and Turkey can put the intermediate wheel (10) to the neutral position. The elastic means (15) is formed by a leaf spring fixed to the plate, the leaf spring having a free end (16) acting on the base (12) of the intermediate wheel (10). The timepiece according to claim 1. 2. Timepiece according to claim 1, characterized in that the end (8) of the arm (7) acting on the head (11) of the intermediate wheel (10) is inclined outward from the plate (P).

Images